Fabric cutter



Oct. 15, 1929. w. R. BARRETT 1,732,149

FABRIC CUTTER Filed June 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ITNESSESwzlham R. Barr-eff M BY ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1929. w. R. BARRETT FABRICCUTTER Filed June 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ZULLLzLamR.BarrettWITNESSES ATTORNEY Patented Got. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES WILLIAM R.BARRETT, OLE NEW YORK, N. Y.

FABRIC Application filed June 27,

This invention relates to a fabric cutter, and relates more particularlyto a fabric cutter of the type disclosed in United States Letters PatentNo. 1,513,688, granted to me.

The fabric cutter of the type under con- ,sideration includes a carriagewhich travels relatively to a fabric support, a cutter which travels onthe carriage in cuttingrelation to the fabric support, and power'anddrlving mechanism which operates to move the carriage step by step, andalso to operate the cutter intermittently, in timed accord, so that thecarriage will travel a predetermined distance after each cuttingoperation, for 1 purpose of cutting a piece of fabric on a bias, intostrips of predetermined lengths and widths. A

The principal object of the present invention is to provide improvementsin the construction and operation of cutters or machines of theindicated character, by virtue of which apiece of fabric or likematerial of a certain width, may be accurately cut on a bias,

at any desired angle within a certain range, for the purpose ofobtaining strips of various lengths and widths.

' The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features andadvantages will appear when the following specification is read inconnection with the accompanying drawing,

in 'which- Figure 1', is a plan view ofthefabric cutter embodying thefeatures of the presentinvention. Y

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken.

on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken onthe'line 33 of Fig. 1, the same being shown on an enlarged scale. 7 Fig.4is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 on an enlargedscale.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on 55 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be apparentthat, there is shown a fabric cutter which includes a fabric support 13which will be mounted on a suitable frame structure. A carriage 14 isassociated with thefabric support 13 for relative the 1a longitudinalmovement with respect thereto.

CUTTER 1928. Serial No. 288,702.

The carriage 14 includes two side members 15 and 16 arrangedrespectively at opposite sides of the fabric support 13, and movablymountedon the fabric support by means of rollers or wheels 17 each beingmounted on a bracket member 18 attached to its related side member. Abridge 19 is arranged transversely of the fabric support 13 and iscarried by the side members 15 and 16 to which it isfixed, the saidbridge 19 being disposed above the fabric support 13. A beam 20 ispivotally mounted on the bridge 19, and this is accomplished bythe useof an arbor 21 which serves as a pivot for the beam 20, and also as ameans on which a bevel gear 22 rotates. The beam 20 is suspended fromthe bridge 19 below the same, and the arbor 21 is positioned centrallyof the bridge, and is also located centrally with respect to the fabricsupport 13. A prime mover or electric motor 23 is arranged on one end ofthe beam 20, the shaft 24 of which operates motion transmissionmechanism 25 carried by the beam 20. The said mechanism 25 operates tocause a rotary cutter 26 to travel intermittently in opposite directionslongitudinally of the beam 20, and therefore across the fabric support13 to cut the fabric indicated at 27. The mechanism 25 also serves-tointermittently drive the bevel gear 22, and this is accomplished throughthe intervention of gearing 28. Selective motion transmission mechanism29 supported mainly by the bridge 19, and in part by the side member 15transmits the intermittent motion of the gear 22, -to the pinion 30 ofthe mechanism 29.- The said pinion 30'meshes with a rack 31 securedalong one of the longitudinal edges of the fabric support 13. Thecarriage14 is. thus moved step by step, andthe degree of each step isgoverned by the mechanism 29 which may be controlled manually for thepurpose of changing the distance of travel of the carriage in itsintermittent movement. The mechanism 29 serves for the purpose ofobtaining strips of different widths. The operation ofthe cutter 26 andthe movement of the carriage 14 is in timed accord, the provision beingsuch that-the cutter 26 travels across the fabric support to cut thefabric followed immediately by the carriage moving of the side member 15a predetermined distance, whereupon the cutter 26 travels in an oppositedirection, and this action is repeated continually for the purpose ofcutting the fabric 27 on the bias into strips of predetermined lengthand Width. This feature has been fully disclosed in the Letters Patenthereinbefore mentioned.

In order to cut the fabric into strips of various lengths, means isprovided for changing the angular position of the beam 20. The saidmeans includes a worm gear 32 rotatable on a stub shaft 33 secured tothe beam 20. The worm gear 32 is rotated by a wor m 3e on a shaft. 35journaled in suitable hearings36 carried by the beam 2U. Thes'haftg35has a crank handle 37 forthe purpose of rotating the shaft 35 .to turnthe worm 34-. The worm gear32 meshes with a gear 38 on the upper end ofashaft 39 .journtled in bearings 40. The'lower end of the shan'sahassecured thereto a pinion 41 which meshes with the teeth of an arcnaterack secured to the side member.15. It will now be understood thatywhenthe crank handle 37 is'manipulated movement will be imparted tothebeamQO to change the angular position ur-thebeam 20. Consequently thecutter 26 will be madeto travel acrossthe fabric support '13 at anglecorresponding to the angle dfdispositifonof the beam 20, In this waystrips of various lengths may be, cut from the fabric.

"In order to indicate the degree of movement'o'f the he'a'mQO and inorder to guidethe' operator in making the desired adjustment to obtainstrips of fabric of predetermined lengths, there is provided a dial 43which is secured to the worm gear 32, as at l lfto turn "therewith. Apointer 45 which serves in conjimction with the dial 43 is iiize dlymounted on the'upper end of the shaft 33.

In order to hold the beam 20 against {movement in the differentadjustedpositions, "there is provided means'presentlyto be described. 'One endof th'e beam 20 carries clamp 46 Whichmayb'e of'anypreferredconstruction, and in thepresent instance consists of a relatively fixedbracket 47 on the beam 20, clamping member 48 swingingly mountedon thebracket J4L7', as at 49, and a pressure screw '50 adjustable onthebracket 47, and'which exerts pressure on the clamp member 458, thelatter being adapted to engage "the under side of an edge portion 'to'coop'erate with a fixed depending member 51 on thebe'am 20, whichcontacts with a track member 52 secured to 'theside member 15, to set upa clamping action. Thus provision is made iforiholding one end of t'hebeam 20 against movement. The opposite end of the beam =20'is' also heldagainst movement, and this is accomplished by the provision of aclamping member 53 arranged for up and down possible to 1 out movementin a bracket 54 secured to the beam 20. The upper end 55 of the clampingmember 53 is cross sectionally round and threaded. The said end 55extends through apertured lugs 56 secured to the end of the beam 20. Aworm gear 57 is threaded on the end 55, and is disposed between" thelugsi56 to prevent the gear 57 from 'moving longitudinally with respectto set up the clamping action. It will be" undei'stood that when thecrank handle 60 is manipulated, the clamping member 53' may be movedinto and out ofc'lamping'engagement with the edge portionof the'side'memher 16 to hold the related end of the beam SBO' againstmovement, or to release'the same. The crank handle 60 is disposedadjacent the end of thebeamha'ving the clamp 46, and crank handle 37 sothatall adjustments may be made from one side of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the beam 20 which carriesthe cutter 26; the power means 23, and motion transmission means 125,-is guided for movement to different angular positions; making it a:piece of fabric oi-" 'like ma terial on "a bias,at any desired anglewithin a limited range, for the :p urp'ose-iof obtaining strips ofvarious lengths; that, motion "is transmitted from the power means23 tothe a mechanism 29, regardlessof thejadjustment of the beam 20,'t'o=movethe carriage-14, and I therefore the beam 20 and :cutter 26 longi-.tudinally of the fabric support 'l3,-to obtain the desired widthofrfabric strips; .thatmeans is provided for adjusting the beamQO andappurtenancesicarried thereby for :the'iintended purposefand that meansis 'pr ovide'd for holding the beams 20 and appurtenances carriedthereby indifferent angular positions of adjustment.

It is to be understood thatrthe inveiition is not restricted-to'the'precise arrangement of parts shownand described,as details'ofconstruction may be'mo'difiedan'd rearranged without departing from thespirit of'the invention, thescope of which is limited'only by the terms'of'th'e appended claims. Iplaim: l

I In ajinachine fo'r cutting material into strips, a'support formaterial 'tofbe out, a

beammounted for movement along sai'dsup- V 'p'ortfa'nd also mountedforguided movement to different angular positions {with respect to saidsupport, a cutter mounted on' 'said beam for longitudinal movementthereon, for the purpose of cutting the material on a bias, meansoperable to accurately adjust the beam to vary the cutting angle of thecutter, and means operated. by the last mentioned means to indicate theextent of adjustment of the beam and the length of out which will bemade by the cutter.

2. In a machine for cutting material into strips, a support for materialto be cut, a traveling beam mounted for movement along said support andalso mounted for guided movement to different angular positions withrespect to said support, a cutter mounted on said beam for longitudinalmovement thereon, for the purpose of cutting the material on a bias,means operable to accurately adjust the beam to vary the cutting angleof the cutter, and means operable to hold the beam in the differentangular positions to which it is moved.

3. In a machine for cutting material into strips, a support for thematerial to be cut, a carriage whichtravels relatively to said support,cutting means arranged on said carriage for travel therewith and fortravel relatively thereto, for the purpose of cutting the material atintervals on a bias, and means to ad- 1' ust the cutting means to varythe cutting an-.

gle thereof, for the purpose of producing strips of various lengths. 4:.In a machine for cutting material into strips, a support for thematerial to be cut, a carriage which travels relatively to said support,a beam pivotally mounted on said carriage, cutting means arranged onsaid beam for travel relatively thereto for the purpose of cutting thematerial at intervals on a bias, and means to move and to hold the beamin various angular positions, so that the cutting means may operate forthe purpose of producing strips of various lengths.

Signed at 4:7 Fulton St., in the county of N. Y., and State of New York,this 21st day of June, A. D. 1928;

WILLIAM R. BARRETT.

